I need help regarding tube phono preamplifiers

Perhaps you should consider changing your Preamp from SS to Tube type.

You have a SS Preamp with both MM and fully adjustable MC phono stages within.

I presume you must not like it’s phono sound.

I had McIntosh C28 Preamp, did not like it’s phono sound, actually preferred the sound of a dinky phono built into an inexpensive AT120 TT.

I sold my McIntosh SS Amp and SS Preamp, went to Vintage McIntosh full tube preamp, with wonderful sounding tube MM phono, and added a SUT with PASS to boost MC enough to continue to use the mx110z’s tube MM Phono.

All other sources now thru tube preamp on to modern tube amp with remote volume. All sound terrific thru the tube preamp.

I would like to thank all of the forum members who responded to my posting.

I appreciate the feedback and will do some additional research. Hopefully I will be able to demo some products prior to making the final choice.

Best regards to everyone.

The OP asks for a comparison among 3 choices of phono and got almost nothing but suggestions that he consider a 4th, and there’s virtually no consistency regarding a putative 4th alternative. I’ve owned the Rhea which I converted to Signature status. The Rhea Signature version was way better than the base version. Otherwise I advise the OP to choose on the basis of features, because all 3 on his list are very good, provided that you sub in the Sig version of the Rhea. I have a slight bias in favor of the VAC Ren, but it’s not well founded.

The Hegel V10 is not tubed, but it’s warm sounding and detailed. Used with a tube line preamp (Cary SLP05) the combination has that tube “magic” yet is detailed with a focused soundstage.

I've always lusted after Vac phonostages, but haven't made the leap. Same with Aesthetix. Aesthetix worried me to have to always be chasing tubes and noise. Went Allnic and I could not be happier. Possibly last phonostage I'll need. But you are in a very good spot and really are going to have a hard time going with the wrong phono.